Cardinals Major League Notebook: 12/12/09

The Sports Xchange

12/12/2009

Brad Penny has been signed with the next big question whether or not Matt Holliday will join him.

INSIDE PITCH

The Cardinals, still waiting to
see how Plan A -- left fielder Matt Holliday -- works out -- got a start on Plan
B when they signed 31-year-old right-hander Brad Penny to a one-year contract
that could pay him $9 million.

Penny, who missed a good portion
of the 2008 season with injury while with the Dodgers, was especially impressive
for San Francisco, his second team, last season. He
was 4-1 with a 2.59 earned run average in six starts for the Giants after being
let go by Boston, where he was 7-8.

"When we were looking at ways to
improve our rotation and what was out there, he was someone we've had interest
in for some time, and we were able to come to a mutually desirable contract,"
general manager John Mozeliak said. "When you look at the type of pitcher he is,
his strengths fit in well. There's a strong desire to work with Dave (pitching
coach Dave Duncan), and we saw a lot of upside there."

The Cardinals, by signing Penny,
didn't necessarily close the door on re-signing 42-year-old right-hander John Smoltz, who, like Penny, began the season in Boston before also finding success elsewhere.
Smoltz made six good starts out of seven for the Cardinals after joining them
for the final two months of the 2009 season.

For now, the Cardinals have a
rotation of veterans in right-handers Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse and Penny, with the fifth spot up for grabs. One pitcher in the mix for
that spot is 23-year-old Jaime Garcia, who finished strongly for Class AAA
Memphis last season after recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery.

"We're comfortable if we had to go
into spring with the four we have plus Jaime," Mozeliak said. "Obviously, if you
look at how (little) Jaime has thrown over the last two years it's a big
challenge for him even in the fifth spot. It does make sense for us to add depth
there.

"Seeing how we're putting together
the rotation and how it would best work, I still think there is a chance
(Smoltz) could fit into that."

NOTES,
QUOTES

--RHP Brad Penny was signed to a
one-year deal, which meant the Cardinals effectively ended their interest, which
had been scant, in retaining free agent RHP Joel Pineiro. Pineiro, who declined
arbitration from the club, is seeking a multi-year deal, and general manager
John Mozeliak said any deal longer than one year with Pineiro would be
"unappealing."

--Manager Tony La Russa said he
expected his new hitting coach, former Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire, to meet
with the media shortly. This conversation surely will involve questions about
any history McGwire had with performance enhancements. "It's going to happen,"
La Russa said of the "imminent" press conference. "I think what'll happen is
hopefully whatever questions there are will happen before we go to spring
training."

--While the Cardinals hung in the
Matt Holliday sweepstakes, they ran the risk of losing out on free agent INF-OF
Mark DeRosa, who finished the 2009 season with them.

"Mark enjoyed his time in
St. Louis last
season. He's definitely interested (in a possible return). But there's also a
lot of interest in him," agent Keith Grunewald said.

General manager John Mozeliak said,
"Right now, if we approach this as apples to oranges, it's hard to make a
decision. But if we can get it in terms of what the value propositions are out
there relative to the Holliday situation, it would be a lot simpler to make the
moves if we decide to go there."

But the Cardinals insist they
still are in the Holliday market. Manager Tony La Russa said, "We rarely get
mentioned as one of the teams with a chance to sign him. Well, we refuse to
believe that. I think we've got a legitimate shot."

--Mozeliak squelched talk of
acquiring an impact hitter through trade.The Washington Nationals are reluctant to talk about LF Adam Dunn, and
the Cardinals are not believed in the mix to acquire Florida Marlins 2B baseman
Dan Uggla.

--La Russa indicated interest in
Houston free agent INF Miguel Tejada, who was an
Oakland minor
leaguer when La Russa managed there in the 1990. "Yeah, we've talked about
Miguel," La Russa said. But others in the organization didn't seem as interested
in the Dominican veteran, who had played shortstop for Houston but who would move to third in St. Louis.

--To add depth to their outfield,
especially from the left side, the Cardinals might have interest in OF Ryan Church, designated for assignment by Atlanta.

BY THE NUMBERS: 16 -- Number of
wins for new RHP Brad Penny in both 2006 and 2007 for Los Angeles.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "If we don't spend
on (Matt) Holliday, we will spend on several players." -- Cardinals president
Bill DeWitt III, discussing the possibilities if the free agent outfielder isn't
re-signed.

ROSTER
REPORT

The Cardinals didn't have many
needs as the season ended although they probably could use one more veteran
starting pitcher to go with RHPs Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Kyle
Lohse. RHPs Joel Pineiro and Todd Wellemeyer, who filled out the rotation, both
likely will be gone as free agents.

BIGGEST NEEDS: When the Cardinals
were dismissed early from the playoffs, they set the wheels in motion to try to
re-sign free agent LF Matt Holliday and also 3B Mark DeRosa. Holliday, however,
seemed likely to go into the open market.